Call to order (Leann Onasch)

Ms. Leann Onasch, Child Nutrition Advisory Council (CNAC) Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Introductions

All members and guests introduced themselves.

Public Comment

No comment provided.

Approval of Agenda; Approval December 12, 2007 Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes from December 12, 2007 were approved by unanimous vote.

I.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

Elizabeth Moreno announced that California will participate as a new state in the FFVP program. California will receive $250,000 in funding to establish the program in 25 schools for the 2008-2009 school year. The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) will post the Request For Application on the CDE web site in April.

Phyllis Bramson-Paul gave an update on the Farm Bill.

Both the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill contain significant funding increases for the FFVP. The Senate version on funding could result in California receiving as much as $5 million per year.

The House version allows state agencies to use up to two percent for administrative costs.

II.
School Gardens

Elizabeth Moreno reported that 3,879 schools (4o percent of all California schools) received California Instructional School Garden (CISG) Grants, totaling $10.8 million of the $15 million allocated from the 2007 Budget Act for this program.

The remaining $4.2 million that was ear-marked for 2008 CISG grants has been cut from the budget. Therefore, there will not be a second round of garden grants in 2008.

The garden grants awarded in 2007 have not been cut in the current year state budget cuts.

III.
SB 12/965 Regulations

Mike Danzik noted that the State Board of Education has granted a 15 day public posting for comments for these regulations which cover food and beverage requirements outside of the federal school meal programs.

The next State Board of Education meeting will be held on March 12 and 13, 2008.

The final set of regulations should be ready by September, 2008.

IV.
Recruitment

Phyllis Bramson-Paul explained that State Board of Education staff vacancies affect the State Board of Education’s ability to fill CNAC vacancies.

Recruitment letters are being drafted to go out for all CNAC vacancies in March, 2008.

Council members will review applications for the physical education position and provide the strongest three to five applicants for further consideration.

V.
Health Education Standards Update

Jennifer Rousseve reported that the health education standards had only minor changes, refocusing standard 8 and essential knowledge. An appendix was added.

There should not be much debate in the State Board of Education meeting on March 12 and 13 regarding these standards.

VI.
School Facilities Regulations

Chris Kavooras and Stephanie Ewing updated the committee regarding possible changes to the Title V regulations.

During the August CNAC meeting, Kathleen Moore from CDE’s School Facilities Planning Division introduced the idea of updating the Title V regulations to include more defined regulations relating to school cafeterias

A call was made for interested volunteers to serve on a committee to look at the current regulations and provide suggested changes, which will be submitted to the State Board of Education

Leann Onasch will follow-up with John Peukert regarding the research he had completed on school architects and California health standards

A draft copy of the potential funding sources for school food facilities Management Bulletin was handed out.

Comments regarding this bulletin can be provided in hard copy, fax or e-mail. Please direct all comments to Stephanie Ewing as soon as possible.

A recommendation was made to move the Williams Settlement section to the front page of the Management Bulletin.

VII.
NSD Update

Phyllis-Bramson Paul noted that the education bond may or may not be placed on the ballot due to the budget situation.

Simplified summer program

The cost reporting procedure commonly known as the “Simplified” Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) began in California January 1, 2008. Under this program, SFSP sponsors report the number of meals served and receive the reimbursement rate (combined operating and administrative) for all meals served. They no longer report their actual costs. If these agencies have unexpended funds at the end of the program year, they may use them in the next year or for other child nutrition purposes.

The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is working on a chart that compares SFSP to the School Nutrition Program seamless option including rates and administrative requirements.

This simplified reporting procedure is also applicable to the after school snack program that Congress is piloting in California.

Westland Beef Hold

The State Senate created a Select Committee on Food Borne Illness.

The Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is looking at methods to improve the way it notifies agencies of commodity food holds/recalls. In addition to Information Alerts, e-mails, and the NSD List-Serve, the NSD would like to:

Use a phone tree system or automated phone messaging service to disseminate information; and

Partner with organizations (i.e., the California School Nutrition Association, the Small School District Association, and the California Alliance of Child and Family Services) to disseminate information to members.

The United States Department of Agriculture plans to replace the recalled beef. Details about the timeline for replacement and reimbursement for administrative costs of destruction of the recalled beef will be coming soon.